Programme innovations and networks of French public theatres

Manager-ruled organisations are supposed to be less innovative than artist-ruled ones. However in France from 1995 to 1997, the managers of ‘scénes nationales’, who are not usually directors, are more open to lively playwrights than the ‘managers-cum-directors’ of national theatres and drama centres. Since audiences' risk aversion for contemporary authors is similar in all types of theatre, we may infer that ‘scénes nationales’ are more innovative than national theatres and drama centres. Nevertheless, internal observations on uniform criteria of selection qualify this view Multidimensional scaling of similarities in selling performances partly supports the assumption of status-oriented trade in theatre.